Head coach of Nigeria’s U-18 women’s handball team, John Uzor, has expressed belief in his team’s chances of securing a qualification berth for the 2026 Women’s Youth World Handball Championship, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The team, currently gearing up for the 2025 African Women’s Youth Handball Championship in Oran, Algeria later this month, will be aiming to match or surpass their third-place finish at the 2023 edition in Tunisia — a historic feat that secured their first-ever World Championship ticket.
Speaking exclusively to PUNCH Sports Extra, coach Uzor revealed, “Well, every team that is coming out to play, are prepared. And everything has to come with a little bit of favour. I know that we will be favoured. Five teams to qualify, we’ll surely qualify. At least, even if we do not finish on the podium, we are eyeing at least a spot at the World Cup. Yes, that is what we are saying. We know we’ll finish at the podium, all things being equal. But we’ll qualify for the World Cup. That’s the most important thing.”
He added, “The previous set went for the same tournament two years ago and they came out third. So you know much is expected of us. At least surpass them or maintain the standard. And this time around we have more countries coming in to play. So we are doing everything possible to imbibe and inculcate some things into the team so that we can achieve better than what they did before.
Nigeria have been pitted in Group A at the continental competition, and will slug it out with the likes of Angola, Tunisia, Kenya, Benin Republic and Madagascar.
The tournament will run from September 14 to 21 in Oran, Algeria. It will serve as qualifiers for the 2026 Women’s Youth World Handball Championship as well as the IHF Women’s Intercontinental Phase.
Nigeria claimed the bronze medal at the 2023 edition, which was held in Monastir, Tunisia, after defeating three-time champions Angola 28-24 in the third-place match, which also ensured a historic qualification for the world championship for the first time.
